Directions: It's a dirt road, but 4WD is NOT needed. Don't be put off by the apparently perilous zig-zag road clinging to the side of the mountain. The road is actually very wide and reasonably well maintained. The roughest part is the flat at the start of your journey. From Highway 178, turn off onto the Chimney Peak Scenic Byway at coordinates N 35-44.948, W 118-06.752. Proceed on this road over the flat, and up to the saddle crest of the mountain (total trip about five miles). You'll want to stop several times along the way to take pictures. By all means do so as the road is very wide for parking. The parking area for the trail and cache is at the very top of the crest (5,532 ft), at coordinates N 35-47.271, W 118-04.319. The trailhead is well marked, just across the road. Get out of your car and go find that cache at N 35-47.273, W 118-04.100 !!!
We placed the cache only about a fifth of a mile down the trail. Wanted it to be easy to get to for most people with kids. If you're feeling adventurous, and brought water, keep on hiking after finding the cache. Past the cache the trail starts its ascent up to Lamont Peak. I mean "up", there's no zig-zags, so you'll be huffing and puffing. Keep in mind that we've never actually made it to the top yet. We've always tuckered out about 2/3 of the way. But there's no shame in turning back as you'll still be rewarded with a great view no matter where you turn around.
When you get back to your car, consider continuing north on the "Byway". You'll again be rewarded with more impressive scenery, with the Dome Lands and Chimney Peak Wilderness on your left, and the Owen's Peak Wilderness on your right. You're finally finding out what's on the other side of those mountains that you've been staring at for years! The Byway eventually connects with Nine Mile Canyon/Kennedy Meadows Road for your return. But before leaving the Byway, make sure you visit our other easy cache "Owen's Peak Wilderness - West" for an incredible view of the valley you've just traversed.
Original contents of the Lamont Peak Trail Cache were: AM/FM pocket radio (new), American Wilderness Figurines, Wooden Thai Elephant, A Bug Nut (careful opening!), $150 Million medallion, Obligatory Keychain, and... Little Goku, Big Goku, and Fajeeta guarding the seven Dragon Balls !
Note the Dragon Balls are not "official" travel bugs. No logging is required, but feel free to trade/scatter them to other cache sites to advertise our cache.